On July 21, Willis Music announced plans to open a new retail superstore at Cincinnati's Kenwood Galleria. It will be the company's fourth store in the Cincinnati area and seventh overall. The new location will be a full-line retail operation with a large sheet music selection, an expanded band and orchestra instrument section, music lessons studios, and an auditorium.

"We hope that by opening a store in the Kenwood area we will fulfill a need that has been long overdue," said Kevin Cranley, president of Willis Music.

NAMM's New Chairman
In related news, NAMM appointed Cranley as its new chairman at Summer NAMM on July 23. He succeeds Tom Schmitt, president and chairman of Schmitt Music, who finished his two-year term.

Along with his work with NAMM, Cranley has served as a board member of the Retail Print Music Dealers Association and a trustee of the American Classical Music Hall of Fame and Museum. He's also a member of the Northern Kentucky University College of Business Advisory Council, Alliance of Independent Music Merchants and Music Teachers National Association, among other groups.

"I am honored and humbled to be elected as NAMM's chairman," Cranley said. "In this position, I look forward to assisting our association and its 9,000 member companies in spreading the pleasures and proven benefits of making music."